One more time, Dutch has an XJ again

[DutchVDub]

YJ was parted out, sold, and then that guy sold it to another guy who is going to put the frame under his CJ-7 and toss the tub.

[TDIJ]

I hear you there... I'm quite talented when it comes to making shiv that doesn't fit right myself, I don't need someone else to do that for me!

Roof sliders???

[DutchVDub]

Roof sliders from HDOffroad, FedEx tracking says they'll be here the 5th.

http://www.hdoffroadengineering.com/...j-roof-sliders

Mine are getting some pre-bent 90's and enough extra tube to span the front above the windshield. I'm also going to add some pinch seam tie-ins and eventually add a few more cross bars using DOM so it can serve as the halo to my exo-cage. For now though it'll provide roof protection against trees and serve as a low profile roof rack for the camping gear.

[TDIJ]

hmmm... I'm going to try to reserve judgement for the time being... is this a legit issue and mod with xj's? Never heard of these.

[DutchVDub]

I've seen plenty of XJ's with jacked up rain gutters from leaning into trees, a lot of the ones that get too bad get cut up and caged. I figure it'll be a good basis for the roof halo at a later date but will serve a good purpose until then. The sliders themselves are 1.75x.120 DOM and its tied into the actual structure of the roof where the factory roof racks attach. Add in a few DOM cross bars and pinch seam/rain gutter brackets and it'll be plenty stout and very well integrated into the Jeep's structure for a exo-cage halo. Key thing when adding a cage to a uni-body chassis is to tie the cage and body together as much as possible so they reinforce one another. Look at how rally cars are done and you'll see what I mean.

[*xj-man*]

Did you let JCR know that the install didn't go well? I was interested in these too but not if it sucks to install..

[GreatWhiteXJ]

Originally Posted by TDIJ

hmmm... I'm going to try to reserve judgement for the time being... is this a legit issue and mod with xj's? Never heard of these.

Absolutly. Espcially around the C and D pillars.

[Cumminshunter]

I liked your YJ, but this is just




























Just Kidding! You're starting to make me want one of these for the exact same reason - family camping/wheeling rig. 2 adults and 2 kids is going to get old in a yj quick. And I'm tired of fixing my cummins from using it as a "wheeling rig."

Either way, This project is really coming along! Why the Roof sliders instead of just doing an exo cage? For $300, I'm certain YOU could have built a sweet one...

[TonyGstomp]

Originally Posted by DutchVDub

Roof sliders from HDOffroad, FedEx tracking says they'll be here the 5th.

http://www.hdoffroadengineering.com/...j-roof-sliders

Mine are getting some pre-bent 90's and enough extra tube to span the front above the windshield. I'm also going to add some pinch seam tie-ins and eventually add a few more cross bars using DOM so it can serve as the halo to my exo-cage. For now though it'll provide roof protection against trees and serve as a low profile roof rack for the camping gear.

Never even heard of these, I'm looking forward to seeing how the install goes then I will most likely buy some as well. Nice build by the way very clean

[DutchVDub]

Originally Posted by Cumminshunter

Why the Roof sliders instead of just doing an exo cage? For $300, I'm certain YOU could have built a sweet one...

Because I don't have a 1.75 die for my bender, but mainly because I'm lazy. I've been doing my best on this rig to NOT have to learn how to fabricate things on it. I just need a break from it, let the brain and motivation recharge as it were. I am starting to plan some stuff though, so probably next year there will be more Pirate worthy stuff going on.





All painted up and installed, I stayed up until almost midnight finishing these up before today's wheeling trip. As much of a pain in the arse as they were, I do love the way they look.















And I really love this brush on Rustoleum Hammer Finish, thanks again Ashman for pointing me towards it with your excellent write-up.

[DutchVDub]

Had a good day, the Krawlers worked great and once we found the damn hill it was a fun one.



Found an old cabin, not the one we were supposed to find though









3 Rigs in all for this group





I was the lead vehicle and got kind of ahead of the group, so its all poser shots for me









Matt coming up the last rock





JK Rubicon didn't like the trail

[DutchVDub]

JK's are also apparently very heavy









And my final poser shot

[DutchVDub]

Originally Posted by *xj-man*

Did you let JCR know that the install didn't go well? I was interested in these too but not if it sucks to install..

No I have not, I just got the sliders Friday and installed them on Saturday. Tomorrow (Monday) I'm going to give them a ring and possibly an email. I think they need to reevaluate the angles a little bit on their press brake and I also feel that 4 bolts w/ nutserts are not enough for holding the sliders to the actual rockers. I'd think that going down to a 1/4" bolt (the nutserts are a bit smaller that way and won't require such big holes drilled into the rocker) would allow them to add to the amount of bolts. I'd say they need 3x the amount of bolts going into the rocker. Either that or maybe just beefy rivets. The problem I had was that once the brackets were bolted to the pinch seam and frame the slider didn't reach them. So when I tightened those bolts down and they pulled the slider up into the brackets it pulled the top edge of the slider away from the rocker. Once I welded that top seam that was no longer an issue and the slider bent in nice and snug to the brackets once tightened.

[DutchVDub]

I got my HD Offroad roof sliders in yesterday and pretty much finished installing them today. I added in the front bar and went ahead and welded the different pieces together so it wasn't just bolted together. I also want to add some gussets between the rain gutters and the side tubes, I'm just not sure if I want to weld them straight to the rain gutters or get some of the clamp on type. Thoughts on that?



I just need to remove the entire thing so I can weld the back sides of where the front cross tube is spliced into the side tubes. I added a 1.5" .25wall DOM inner sleave at the joints. All the tubing is 1.75" .120wall DOM.



















I might also add in a light bar or at least some tabs to mount lights too. I also want to get one of those 3 point spare tire straps and add in mounting points for it so I can put the spare tire up there.

[Cumminshunter]

I knew you wouldn't just put a bolt-on part w/o adding your own fab skills...

Looks Good and functional.

[DutchVDub]

I had to shoot up to Left Hand this morning to help a buddy who has got himself stuck last night thanks to the sudden rain storm. Big Momma Hill was wet and sloppy. Well after pulling him pack onto the trail I went to back up to the top and lost my passenger side axle u-joint and shafts. 35" Krawlers and a locker proved too much, especially with all the vehicles weight on the front. Luckily some guys from WY were kind enough to give me a pull back to the top. I made the rest of it in 2WD and only missed the first 30 min of Spider Man on iMax with my son and family for his 4th B-day.

Pulling him


Anchored myself to a tree


Oops, I miss my 1 ton axles more and more.


Broke it good


Long way up


So I'm thinking my front 44 I'm building is going to have to get RCV's as they use the same u-joint. I was thinking CTM's as I can unlock the hubs when not on the trail but I'm not sure. For now I'll put my spare shaft in and the guy I went up there to recover said he'll get me another spare shaft.

[TDIJ]

Man... You weren't messing around on that U-joint.

It is a shame the 44 doesn't upgrade the U-joint. That's the same U-joint I have in my Toy axle as well.

Glad the recovery mission was otherwise a success... and having a spare is helpful.

[DutchVDub]

Yeah, that's my only issue with building the front D44. I know a ctm u-joint will be a lot stronger, but RCV's might be worth the extra cash. I want my Warn hubs to be the weak link as they're easy to replace and life time warrantied.

[TDIJ]

Originally Posted by DutchVDub

Yeah, that's my only issue with building the front D44.

You're XJ will have 60's in time... why not just skip the 44 all together!

And don't go all "family rig" on me... what would be better for the family than the stability of a full width track?

[gtxracer]

For what it's worth...


I run a hp30 with Dana 4.10s, lock right, Crane cover, and RCVs on 35 krawlers with 15x10 steel beadlocks and aluminum rings. I haven't had any major failures and even ran a CAD hp30 before this new housing. I'll be giving it a truss and gussets but that's as far as I plan on building it. A hp30 or Rubi44 with RCVs would be good in the front of your rig. Just make sure the gears are set up correctly.

Looking forward to seeing how it progresses.

[CZDiesel]

What a beast Dutch! I may have missed it but my vote would be for a HP44 w/RCVs
The sliders may have given you fits but they look great!

[DutchVDub]

I'm happy with my stance, I measure 72 1/2" to the top of the roof rack with 23psi in the tires (what I run on the street) and I'm right around 79" outside of tire to outside of tire. Its nicely stable and still small enough to wiggle its way through things.

I have a complete front ball joint Dana 60 sitting in my garage for sale that I could build. I also have a HP Ford D44 housing (free) narrowed to run TJ Rubicon inner shafts (80$ for the spare of stockers) w/ a TNT truss already on it and a complete J-truck front D44 w/ flat top knuckles (120$) to rob the knuckles out from. When its all bolted together it should be around a 62" WMS measurement so I plan to go to get rims with a 2.5" back spacing to keep my width. (Current front w/ spacers should be 63" WMS w/ 3.5" back spacing on my rims).

My biggest thing is I don't really want to go to any bigger of a tire and keeping the Krawlers I need to stay with a 15" rim. I'm not sure if I'd even be able to do that effectively with the D60 front. I'm already having to do a lot of craziness to make my rear Dana 60 work and keep it full float. I'm going to be cutting the ends of it off and swapping in 14 bolt spindles so I can run 6-lug hubs. I'll also be narrowing it to match my front D44's WMS measurement and shaving the boottom off to keep as much ground clearance as possible with my 35's.

[GreatWhiteXJ]

Your kids B-day was yesterday? Thats awesome you took him wheelin!

My B-day was yesterday too... Nobody took me wheelin.

[DutchVDub]

My birthday is thursday, you want to ditch work and go up to Kelly Flats?

I didn't take my son with, he went to the movies with the family while I ran up to lend a winch real quick. My real quick recovery mission turned into 40min of winching my Jeep and I missed the first 1/3 of SpiderMan.

[GreatWhiteXJ]

Originally Posted by DutchVDub

My birthday is thursday, you want to ditch work and go up to Kelly Flats?

I didn't take my son with, he went to the movies with the family while I ran up to lend a winch real quick. My real quick recovery mission turned into 40min of winching my Jeep and I missed the first 1/3 of SpiderMan.

Im on vacation right now. So Im free Thursday. Unless truck deals are pending.

I also just got back from up there. The burn area is unreal man. Made me speechless. But the put that bitch out right at Kelly Flats and the gate was WIIDDE open.